Attachment-Focused EMDR
When you understand your patterns but still feel stuck in them
What is EMDR?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps your brain and nervous system process experiences that feel “stuck” or unresolved.
While traditional talk therapy (including CBT) can help you understand your thoughts and patterns, EMDR works more directly with how those experiences are stored in the brain and body.
EMDR may be integrated into ongoing therapy, used as a focused short-term treatment, or offered as an adjunct to therapy with another provider.*
*If you are currently seeing another provider, it is recommended that you discuss this with them prior to reaching out.
What is Attachment-Focused EMDR?
Attachment-Focused EMDR (AF-EMDR), developed by Laurel Parnell and taught through the Parnell Institute, is an advanced, relational approach to trauma therapy.
It builds on traditional EMDR by integrating attachment theory, nervous system awareness, and the therapeutic relationship—supporting deeper, more lasting healing. This approach is often especially helpful for complex or relational forms of trauma.
Rather than following a rigid protocol, this work is tailored to you, allowing space to move at a pace that feels manageable, supportive, and grounded.
This approach can be especially helpful if you’ve done therapy before and gained insight, but still find yourself feeling stuck in certain patterns or emotional responses.
You might notice:
Feeling easily triggered in relationships
Anxiety or overwhelm that feels disproportionate or hard to regulate
A persistent sense of self-doubt, shame, or not feeling “enough”
The emotional impact of trauma, medical experiences, or fertility-related stress
Often, these patterns are not just cognitive—they are rooted in how past experiences were stored in the nervous system and shaped your sense of safety, connection, and self-worth.
Attachment-Focused EMDR helps process these experiences at a deeper level—so change doesn’t just feel intellectual, but embodied and lasting.
What You May Begin to Notice
Over time, many clients begin to experience a shift—not just in how they think, but in how they feel and respond.
You may notice:
Triggers feel less intense or easier to move through
A greater sense of emotional steadiness and regulation
More self-compassion and less self-criticism
Feeling less reactive in relationships
Increased clarity, confidence, and trust in yourself
Rather than feeling pulled back into old patterns, there is often a growing sense of being more present, grounded, and able to move forward.
If you’re curious whether this approach might be a good fit for you, Rebecca offers a complimentary 15-minute consultation.